Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized in January, but the stay was kept secret for several days. (Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)
Despite the delay, President Biden has stood by Austin.
During his hospital stay, Austin transferred his duites to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who was on leave in Puerto Rico, on Jan. 2, the day after he was admitted. However, neither she nor the White House knew he had been hospitalized until two days later. Congress and the public weren't informed until Jan. 5.
A three-page summary of the review's findings said there was no "indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate." However, Austin's staff was "significantly" limited in three ways.
"Medical privacy laws prohibited medical providers from candid sharing of medical information with the Secretary’s staff. Second, for privacy reasons, his staff were hesitant to pry or share any information that they did learn," the summary states. "Third, the Secretary’s medical situation remained in flux and as long as he remained in the Critical Care Unit, timely secured communications could not be assured."
A new Washington Post report warned the Biden administration that Democratic Party voters becoming more hawkish on immigration will pose a challenge to its 2024 re-election. (Photographer: Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
After returning to work, Austin took the blame for the communication breakdown, saying he was responsible for decisions not to disclose his health status.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"We did not handle this right, and I did not handle this right," he said in a news conference at the time. "I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people."
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pentagon-review-austins-hospitalization-staffers-significantly-limited-ill-intent